The Osprey inflatable paddleboard sells for about $1,500 with a pump and case.
Photo provided
By Willie Howard
As a boater and angler, I’m always on the lookout for products that make my outdoor experiences more frequent, fun and successful.
Hundreds of noteworthy products were on display at the American Sportfishing Association’s annual ICAST trade show, an international gathering of producers of fishing- and boating-related gear held this summer in Orlando.
Here’s a small sampling of water-related products spotted during a whirlwind tour of the ICAST show:
Osprey inflatable paddleboard: This fishing paddleboard measures 11 feet, 2 inches. It’s 36.5 inches wide and 6 inches thick when inflated and has tie-down rings for mounting coolers, footrests and a seat. But the real beauty of this paddleboard is transportability. It weighs 36 pounds and rolls up into a duffle bag, meaning you could carry it in the trunk of a car or check it as baggage on an airline flight. Offered by The Creek Co., the Osprey fishing paddleboard sells for about $1,500 with a pump and case. Details: www.creekcompany.com.
Olukai water shoes: This California company enlists Hawaiian lifeguards to test its sandals. Olukai’s Nohea mesh boating shoes looked cool, comfortable and water-friendly. Their removable footpads can be machine washed. The Nohea men’s boating shoes sell for about $85. Details: www.olukai.com.
Willie Howard/The Coastal Star
Borboleta fishing lures: These brightly colored lures come straight from Brazil with names such as Perversa, loosely translated from Portugese as “nasty girl.” They’re designed to catch snook, tarpon, largemouth bass and are known in Brazil for catching peacock bass. Hand-painted Borboleta lures are available for about $13 through Fishfreak Online, a Palm Beach County tackle retailer. Details: fishfreakonline.com/perversalures.html.
Hot-Spot flashers: These colorful pieces of metal made in Canada are designed to reflect light and attract fish. In the ocean, spear fishers use flashers to attract fish such as dolphin and wahoo. They’re also becoming popular among anglers fishing from boats. Dangled under a boat, flashers have been known to attract wahoo. They sell for $10-12 each. Details: www.hotspotlures.com.
Engel live-bait cooler: This small cooler has a tight-sealing lid, meaning it can roll over in your car, full of shrimp and salt water, and it won’t spill. This bait cooler comes with an aerator and can be used as a regular cooler. The 13-quart bait coolers are popular with anglers fishing from kayaks and paddleboards because they can double as a seat. The Engel bait cooler sells for about $75. Details: www.engel-usa.com.
SnowLizard waterproof cellphone case: The company’s cellphone cases keep water out, have built-in batteries and solar panels that can help keep a phone charged when you’re out there. The SLXtreme 5 for the iPhone 5 sells for about $150. Details: www.snowlizardproducts.com.
Vigor sunglasses: Ever broken a pair of expensive sunglasses? It hurts. The frames of Vigor sunglasses are flexible, meaning they’re less likely to break when you sit on them. The polarized versions come with a one-year warranty and sell for about $65. Details: www.vigoreyewear.com.
Mustang Elite inflatable life jacket: This next-generation inflatable life jacket has a back panel that reduces strain on the neck. It provides 26 pounds of buoyancy when inflated. The company says the hydrostatic trigger won’t blow up the jacket until it enters the water, meaning it should not inflate when drenched by rain. The new life jacket is scheduled to be available in January and will sell for about $260. Details: www.mustangsurvival.com.
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